The AMPS project seeks to transform future space power system architectures with a modular approach, standardizing the power system at the electronics module level, and validating the modular approach through ground-based demonstrations. The anticipated benefits include opportunities to minimize power system maintenance operations, to improve power system availability, and to reduce the number of unique spare parts which necessary to enable sustainable future exploration missions and systems.

For a single vehicle or system, a modular power system would reduce the up-mass cost of a spare, as a single channel or power module could be replaced instead of a unit that may contain several channels, similar to how on Earth, you would be able to replace a standard breaker switch in your house when it fails rather than replacing the entire breaker box. Additionally, if adopted across multiple vehicles and systems, the commonality of interfaces offered by a modular power system would enable the sharing of spares across vehicles, thus reducing the overall mass of spares needed for an integrated stack of several vehicles, such as for the cis-lunar Gateway. For an integrated stack of vehicles or elements, the adoption of a modular power system would also reduce the overall development costs, as only a single product development cost could be shared across several vehicles or elements within an integrated stack.

The AES Modular Power Systems (AMPS) project will infuse new technology into power systems and components and prove their capabilities through exploration-based ground demonstrations. AMPS will explore technologies that enable the development of modular power units which, when combined with standardized interfaces, will provide commonality across a variety of exploration vehicles for future NASA missions. Additionally, AMPS will assess and provide recommendations for improvements and/or further design concept refinements of proposed power systems for other Advanced Exploration Systems Projects and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate Programs.